Breaking Barriers in Nutrition Care: How a Dietitian Transformed Referrals and Patient Outcomes

The Growing Need for Personalized Nutrition Care  

Chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity continue to put immense pressure on U.S. healthcare systems.1 Research shows that personalized nutrition interventions, led by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), can dramatically improve patient outcomes.1-3 Unlike general nutrition education, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is tailored to each patient’s readiness for change, medical history, and social determinants of health.4

Yet, despite its proven impact, many patients never receive this essential care. Why? Because referral systems often fail to connect them to the right clinic at the right time.

Setting the Stage at OU Health

Since 2004, Sodexo has operated the MNT clinic at Oklahoma University (OU) Health, serving both adult and pediatric patients. In 2023, the outpatient RDN saw an opportunity: streamline the referral process, expand clinical reach, and improve operational efficiency.

These efforts were guided by Sodexo’s Clinicia™ offer, a clinical and patient nutrition solution designed to deliver advanced nutrition care, improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, and drive operational efficiencies. Clinicia provides the infrastructure and support that enables clinics like OU Health to implement best practices in medical nutrition therapy. 

The Challenge

A clinician using a tablet to review patient information. Before 2023, referrals were handled manually — paper forms that needed to be faxed and were frequently misrouted or lost. This slowed growth and left patients waiting.

When OU Health transitioned to a new electronic medical record (EMR) system named EPIC in July 2023, automatic referrals became possible. A configuration error, however, sent all nutrition referrals to the diabetes clinic regardless of diagnosis. The outpatient RDN quickly noticed the sharp drop in referrals and worked tirelessly to investigate. The issue persisted until December 2023, which meant months of delayed care.

The Solution

Partnering with OU’s IT team, the RDN designed an automated referral system that was simple, accurate, and provider friendly. She introduced Smartphrases (time-saving shortcuts that streamline documentation) in EPIC, giving physicians clear instructions on how to send referrals correctly.

To ensure adoption, she collaborated with the OU Medicine Physician Champion, who shared the process with doctors and residents during monthly meetings. Equally important, the Sodexo Advanced Nutrition Practice and Innovation Team provided consistent support, guidance, tools, and advocacy, reinforcing the value of the Clinicia brand. This combination of technology, education, and leadership backing created a sustainable fix and ensured long-term success. 

Results That Speak Volumes

Clinician presenting information on a screen during a medical team meeting. The impact was immediate and dramatic:

  • 100% of patients stated they were quickly scheduled for an appointment with an RDN.
  • Patient volume skyrocketed by 334% in 2024 — without adding staff.
  • Billable units increased by 231%.
  • Revenue grew 117.8% compared to preautomation levels.
  • 88% of patients rated the services a 9 or 10 on a 1-10 scale when asked how likely they were to refer the program to a friend or family member.

These results were fueled not only by the IT solution but also by the RDN’s leadership: marketing the service to the various medical clinics, training physicians, and expanding program availability.

Conclusion

By combining strategic collaboration and Clinicia’s structured approach to process improvement, OU Health’s outpatient RDN, together with Sodexo’s Advanced Nutrition Practice and Innovation Team used Better Expertise to transform clinic operations. This case shows how empowering clinicians with the right tools and support structure can drive operational excellence, healthier communities, and better patient outcomes.

References

  1. Mitchell LJ, Ball LE, Ross LJ, Barnes KA, Williams LT. Effectiveness of Dietetic Consultations in Primary Health Care: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017;117(12):1941-1962. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2017.06.364
  2. Miller CK. Medical Nutrition Therapy: Still Relevant in the Era of Pharmacotherapy for Obesity Care. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2025;125(5):595-599. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2024.06.222
  3. Al-Nimr RI, Wright KCS, Aquila CL, Petersen CL, Gooding TL, Batsis JA. Intensive nutrition counseling as part of a multi-component weight loss intervention improves diet quality and anthropometrics in older adults with obesity. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020;40:293-299. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.09.002
  4. Davidson P, MacLeod J, Lau KHK. Revised 2025 Scope and Standards of Practice for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Diabetes Care. Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) website. Published July 2025. Accessed December 9, 2025. www.cdrnet.org/focus